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The Pac-12 is in discussions with its network partners to change programming practices and avoid another season with an overwhelming number of night games, according to sources inside and outside the conference.

I wouldn’t necessarily characterize the back-and-forth as negotiations, because the league has a contract with ESPN and Fox that isn’t going away for a decade.

But Pac-12 officials were not happy with the ’13 broadcast schedule and are working with their partners to find an acceptable resolution for all parties involved. One source called the league’s approach “fair but firm.”

The conference spent three months listening to complaints from fans and school officials. Commissioner Larry Scott and his lieutenant are keenly aware of the frustration.

The Pac-12 just released the TV assignments and kickoff times for early-season games on ESPN, Fox and the Pac12Nets … plus the full broadcast schedule for Thursday/Friday games … and a handful of non-conference tangles that are owned by other leagues.

*** The Pac-12 Networks broadcast lineup is, well, ho-hum:

Of the 13 non-conference games scheduled to air the weekends of Aug. 31, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14, a grand total of one is against a BCS-level opponent, and that’s Boston College at USC.

Meanwhile, more than half of the Pac12Nets games are against FCS-level teams.

Granted, the league is somewhat at the mercy of the schedules, which were put together by the schools years in advance.

The Pac-12 is expected to release its early-season broadcast schedule this week. It will include TV assignments and kickoff times, which are of particular interest to fans eager to make travel arrangements ASAP.

Here’s an explanation of the process and preview of what to expect:

*** We’ll get the specifics for games on the weekends of Aug. 31, Sept. 7 and Sept. 14 and possibly the 21st, as well.

The conference will also announce a smattering of mid- and late-season assignments (more on those below).

But the vast majority of games will be left for in-season selections as the networks attempt to retain flexibility for Oct/Nov. It’s not ideal for fans, especially when Homecoming is involved, but it’s in the best interest of TV ratings and, alas, that’s what it’s all about.

*** Before the three networks begin their so-called draft, Fox and ESPN will make four initial selections. (The entire season of Pac-12-owned games is available.)

Fox has already announced it will broadcast Notre Dame at Stanford on the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend, a strong indication that it had the first pick in the four-game draft.

‘Twas a good year financially for the Pac-12 in 2011-12 — certainly a much better year than those that came before (although not as good as those about to come!).

The conference has released its tax filings (i.e., the 990s) for the 2011-12 fiscal year, and revenue jumped significantly.

The 58% year-over-year increase — to $175.5 million — was due a variety of factors, first and foremost the football championship game and the increased broadcast inventory resulting from the addition of Utah and Colorado.

More football inventory = more money.

Notes on the 990s:

*** The figures reported here are for July ‘ 11 through June ’12 — theydon’t include the $3 billion deal with ESPN and FOX.

That revenue will be reflected in the 2012-13 tax filings, which we’ll get next spring.

Each of the 10 continuing members is expected to receive approx $16 million in the current fiscal year as the result of the new deal, which is worth an average of $20.8 million/school/year but has an escalator clause.

(In other words, the early-year payouts are less than $20.8 million and the final-year payouts are in the high-$20 millions.)

10:30 a.m. update: Kickoff times for the high-profile Nov. 17 games will be announced this weekend …

This is the first week in which the Pac-12’s TV partners have used one of their precious 6-day selection options — they waited for the results of the Nov. 3 games to set the broadcast lineup for Nov. 10.

ESPN, which had the first pick, opted for an expected blowout (Oregon-Cal) over a matchup of top-15 teams (Stanford-Oregon State).

It makes some sense, though: The Ducks are in the hunt for the national championship and ESPN wants to showcase title contenders whenever possible.

(And if it’s close in the fourth quarter, all the better for ratings.)

Once ESPN picked Oregon, FOX, which had the No. 2 selection, jumped on Stanford-Oregon State.

* I know, I know. This was supposed to be my final realignment-related post of the week. But I can’t help myself — the stuff is fascinating, and monumentally important …

The thought occurred to me this morning upon hearing about the Orangebloods report that Texas A&M is considering a one-year delay in its move to the SEC, thereby providing a much-needed pause in the realignment chaos.

And creating the opportunity for college football’s power brokers to hold a Superconference Summit.

Now, I realize the NCAA held a gathering last month for its presidents to discuss the future of college sports. But the Superconference Summit would be less like the presidential retreat and more like, well, Yalta.

I’ve spent the past few days talking about realignment with sources – folks who know college sports and have a deep understanding of the forces behind the shifting landscape.

As one super-sharp observer noted:

“The cable companies are getting bigger and more powerful, and the natural reaction is for the conferences to get bigger and more powerful.

“The formation of three or four superconferences, which is going to happen eventually, is a reaction to the consolidation in the distribution marketplace.

“Look at Time Warner buying Insight (the 9th-largest cable operator in the country), and that’s not the only example. There’s more power centered in a few distributors, and the only way for the conferences to fight that is to get bigger themselves.”

Guessing along with Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott is a risky business, fraught with the potential for the guesser (in this case: me) to look very silly.

But guessing along with Larry Scott is also fun.

So here we go …

*** The original timeline for a detailed announcement on the Pac-12 Network structure was late June/early July.

But that has been pushed back-back-back, to the point that I’d be shocked if the conference has any substantive news before, or during, the football media event in Los Angeles on Tuesday.

In fact, we’re probably looking at the middle of next month — and it could be later.

The network is scheduled to launch in Aug. ’12, and it will take about a year, according to Scott, to get everything in place. But his priority has to be getting the right structure, even if it takes longer than desired.

*** 9:05 a.m. update: The teleconference is just starting. No answers re: distribution during press conference. I hope to get specifics on tele. Check the bottom of this post for distribution info.

Here are some details from the Pac-12 press conference and teleconference on the new TV deal, which goes into effect in 2012-13.

Check back periodically — I’ll have updates over the next 90 minutes or two hours (and over the next few days, for that matter).

The big news up front:

1. Commissioner Larry Scott says that under the new deal with Fox and ESPN, every football and men’s basketball game will be televised, along with most women’s basketball games.

2.Scott also said the $21 million annual revenue for each school will allow schools to reinstate sports that have been cut. (The impact of the new deal on women’s and Olympic sports cannot be overstated.)